ABSTRACT
The old prejudices and obstacles to union recruitment have disappeared rapidly. The ‘cloth cap’ image has gone – thanks to what is one of the most dramatic expansions in British trade unionism since the early 1920s. In many sectors where trade unionism was traditionally strong, the contraction in manpower was particularly sharp. In sectors of the economy which are the most difficult for trade unions to organise, the postwar years have brought either decline or stagnation. The most serious setbacks occurred in the construction industry. The growing emphasis on shopfloor bargaining has altered the job of the full-timers. Local trade union officers are expected to have extra skills in dealing with sophisticated productivity deals, job evaluation, work study and written collective agreements. Moreover, full-time officers in clothing, food, distribution and public utilities suggested in the 1970 survey that the members expected more and had become far more aware of their rights.
